Dispensing attachment for containers



c. w. ANDERSON 2,804,240

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 11. 1954 Aug. 27', 1957DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CONTAINERS Clifford W. Anderson, Manti, UtahApplication October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,499

16 Claims. (Cl. 222-207) This invention relates to material-dispensingdevices adapted for attachment to and use with containers of liquid orpowdered materials to be dispensed, especially containers in which suchmaterials are marketed.

The device of the invention is particularly useful as constructed forapplication to the customary quart cans of automotive motor oil,enabling use of such cans to dispense small quantities of oil from timeto time for a variety of lubricating purposes about the home, garage,automotive service station, commercial and industrial establishment,etc., the can being discarded when empty and the device being thenapplied to a fresh can. In this manner, the merchandising containerbecomes a useful part of an oil dispensing assembly, and the oil neednot be transferred from the original can to the usual long spout oil canfor dispensing.

While the device is especially adapted for the above use, its essentialstructural characteristics are such that it may be dimensioned to fit avariety of types of containers holding a variety of products of liquidor powdered character.

The principal object of the invention is to embody a flexible resilientdispensing bulb in a compact structural arrangement adapted forconvenient and quick application to and removal from a container ofmaterial to be dispensed, preferably the same container in which thematerial concerned is packed when purchased.

Additional objects are to achieve simplicity of structure, ease andeconomy of fabrication and assembly, durability and reliability, adispensing action which is positive, yet easily controlled, andversatility of operation, e. g. dispensing drop-by-drop or in acontinuously flowing stream, or by squirting or spraying.

All of these objects are accomplished by the provision of a squeezabledispensing bulb between and in closely coupled relationship with a capmember and a discharge head, the cap member being formed of flexibleresilient material for direct application to the top of the containersfrom which contents are to be dispensed, and such contents beingexpelled through the discharge head.

At one of its ends, the bulb communicates with and merges into the capmember, and, at the other of its ends, the bulb communicates with andmerges into the discharge head. All of these parts of the device arepreferably molded as an integral body from rubber or the like. Checkvalve inserts are provided between the bulb and cap and between the bulband discharge head, respectively, to provide for alternate suctionintake of material from the container into the bulb, and for pressuredischarge of material from the bulb into and through the discharge head.

For supplying the bulb with material to be dispensed, an intake tubeextends from the first valve for entry deeply into the container towhich the device is applied, and, for facilitating application of thedispensed material wherever required, an elongate discharge tube orspout extends from the discharge head to a suitable extent for any givenuse of the device.

2,804,240 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 ice An optional feature of considerableimportance in most instances of use of the device is a check valvearrangement in the cap member. This may be so constructed and disposedas to be mechanically opened by reason of flexure of the cap memberrelative to the top of the container at such times as the bulb issqueezed, or as to be operative by reason of the differential pressuresexisting at opposite sides of the cap member. Either arrangementprovides for positive admittance of air into the container as required.

Secondary features of the invention have to do with the particular checkvalve constructions here disclosed.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred specificembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the device as constructed forand actually applied to a conventional can in which automotive motor oilis customarily marketed;

Fig. 2, a central vertical section passing through the air-admittingcheck valve in the cap member, the terminal portion of the dischargetube being broken away for convenience of illustration;

Fig. 3, a detail view in axial section of a spray fitting as appliedoptionally to the outlet end of the discharge tube;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 2, but illustrating thecap member flexed, as it is during and following squeezing of the bulb,and showing the airadmitting check valve in its resulting opencondition;

Fig. 5, a perspective view, per se, of the preferred form of check valveillustrated between the bulb and cap members in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, a top plan of the valve of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, butillustrating a different air-admitting check valve construction; and

Fig. 8, a view corresponding to Fig. 7, but showing the check valve inopen condition under pressure of inflowing atmospheric air.

Referring to the drawings:

In the particular form illustrated, the device is adapted for easilyremovable attachment to one end of a cylindrical can 10 of motor oil ascustomarily sold in service stations and garages for pouring intocrankcases of automotive vehicles. Heretofore, there has been no way ofeffectively utilizing such merchandise containers of oil for generallubricating purposes.

As shown, the device comprises a squeezable bulb member 11, a cap member12 at one end of the bulb member, and a dispensing head member 13 at theopposite end of the bulb member. The three members are formed integrallyof flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, preferablyby a molding procedure utilizing suitable molds prepared for thepurpose.

The cap member 12 is relatively broad and shallow, being shoulderedinternally, as at 12a, Fig. 2, to provide for tight resilient anchorageover the bead rim 10a of the can. As so formed, the cap member 12presents a broad annular top portion 12b between its rim and its joinderwith the bulb member 11. For insuring a tight fit between the side wallsof the cap and of the can, the top portion 12b of the cap isadvantageously given an upward and inward slope, as indicated by brokenlines in Fig. 2, so as to place the side walls of the cap under tensionwhen the device is attached to the can.

The hollow interior 14 of the bulb member opens into the underside ofthe cap member 12, and is formed with an internally protruding, annularshoulder 14a which serves to engage and hold in position an intake checkvalve body 15, also preferably molded from rubber or the like, andhaving an elongate valve member 15a of finger diaphragm formationdirected into the hollow interior of the bulb.

The dispensing head member 13 may be of any suitable formation providinga discharge passage 16 for the flow of material from the device and,preferably, for the introduction bf an elongate discharge tube 17 ofrigid material, such as metal tubing, to form a dispensing spout for thedevice. As illustrated, the spout-receiving portion 13a of thedispensing head is laterally directed,

and the crown portion 13b of such head is of broad and' Intake means inthe form of an elongate, rigid tube 20 depends deeply into the can fromanchorage in the intake check valve body 15, passing through a hole 21provided in the otherwise closed top 10b of the can, and therebyproviding an entry port 20a adjacent the bottom of the can for passageof the contents of the can into the hollow interior 14 of the bulb.

It will be noted that, with the interior of the intake valve member aopening into the intake/tube and with the interior of the outlet valvemember 19a opening into the interior, of the bulb, squeezing of the bulbwill serve to expel air or other contents thereof through the slitopening 19b of the outlet valve 19, into, through, and out of thedischarge passage 16 and discharge spout 17, valve 15 acting as a checkagainst backflow into intake tube 20. Release of the squeezed bulb willpermit atmospheric pressure to force contents of the can 10 into andthrough intake'tube 20, through slit opening 15b of intake outlet end asa nozzle, the 'oil may be expelled in a spray.

For this purpose, the nozzle piece or formation may be of any suitabletype, that illustrated being merely an example.

Inasmuch as it is necessary to provide in some fashion for the entry ofair into the can to impart atmospheric pressure and to displace theportion of the contents expelled from the device upon operation thereof,and since it is desirable to otherwise keep the can sealed againstcontamination, I prefer to provide a check valve in the cap member foropening as such cap member is flexed during operation of the device.

The check valve indicated 23 comprises a movable valve member, having ashank 24 disposed within a valve opening 25 provided through thematerial of the cap 12, and having a head 26 adapted to seat upon thematerial of the cap marginal to the opening 25 and thereally squeezingthe bulb 11, the broad top portion 12b of the cap 12' is flexeddownwardly, as in- Fig. 4, to forcibly upper end headed, as at c.

open the valve against the normal closing urge of spring 27 by reason ofabutment of shank 24 against the closed top 10b of the can.

The finger diaphragm valve 15, which serves to control the intake of oilinto the bulb 11 from the can, is preferably of special formation inorder to insure the freest possible entry into the interior of the bulb,while adequately guarding against backflow therethrough upon thesqueezing of the bulb.

I have found that if the slit 15b of this valve is offset from the axialcenter and slopes outwardly therefrom in its extension from the closedtip end of the valve member 15a'toward the open base end thereof,leaving a relatively small arc of the total circumference of the baseportion of such valve member as a freely flexing hinge, theresponsiveness of such'valve is considerably enhanced as well as theextent to which it can be effectively opened.

The advantageous functional effectiveness of this special valve 15 isparticularly desirable at the intake of the bulb, and in thisillustrated embodiment is employed only there, inasmuch as theconventional type of finger diaphragm valve with its 'diametric slit 1%aifords better control of the forced expulsion of material from thebulb.

It should be noted that the finger diaphragm portion of valve 15 extendsfrom a relatively thick and solid base disk 150, which serves to receivethe annular shoulder 14a of the bulb and cap members. Such base disk notonly serves as an anchorage for the intake tube 20, but impartsdesirable rigidity to the central portion of the cap member 12 and tothe lower portion of the bulb member 11.

On the other hand, the open end portion of the outlet valve body 19 isrelatively flexible, so as to tend to flex with the flexing of the bulbmember 11 and thereby aid in the opening of the finger diaphragm 1%.

advantageously employed the check valve of Figs. 7 and 8 in instanceswhere the top wall of the can 10 is removed or is such as willaccommodate same.

Such check valve is unique in construction and opera tion, in that itemploys a flexible resilient valve member 30 which is preferably moldedentirely from rubber or .the like. The valve member 30 includes a stem30a rising from the interior of a cup 3012 and having its free Anair-intake port 31 is provided through the annular top portion 12b ofthe 'cap member'of the dispensing device, and a receiving opening forthe stem 30a is provided therethrough in proximity to such air-intakeport.

The valve member 30 is installed by merely pushing the headed end of thestem 3011 through the receiving opening provided therefor in the capportion 1211, thereby suspending such valve member with its cup at theunderside of the cap 12. The cup is sufficiently broad in insidediameter to comprehend and cover the air-intake opening 31, while thestem 30a is of such length relative to the depth of the cup andthickness of the cap portion 12b to bring and urge the cup rim againstthe underside of cap portion 12b, in resilient sealing relationshiptherewith. t

In operation, release of the bulb 11 following any squeezing of same,will result in atmospheric pressure pushing open the flexible cup 38b,somewhat as shown in Fig. 8, until the vacuum within the bulb issatisfied by the flow of contents from container 10 into such bulb.Thereupon, the cup 3012 will spring back into the resilient sealingcondition of Fig. 7. The flexible cup 3%, thus, provides effective checkvalve action under the conditions existing in the use of the dispensingdevice of this invention.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect toparticular preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood thatvarious changes may be made without departing from the essentialteachings hereof as defined by the claims which here follow.

I claim: 1. A pneumatic bulb dispensing device for removable attachmentto one end and exteriorly of a containerfor 7 liquid or powderedmaterial to be dispensed, comprising a squeezable bulb member; a capmember at one end of and opening into said bulb member,'sa1d cap memberincluding sealing means for attachment to one end of said container; adispensing head member at the opposite end of and opening into said bulbmember; mtake and outlet check valves interposed between the said bulband cap members and between the said bulb and dispensmg head members,respectively; intake means directed into the said intake check valve andhaving an elongate entry portion projecting outwardly from said capmember and adapted to extend deeply into the container to wh ch thedevice is applied; and discharge means extending outwardly from saiddispensing head and provided with a discharge passage for the controlledexpelling of contents of said container by the action of said bulbmemher.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the bulb member and thecap member are formed integrally from flexible resilient material.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein the cap member is ofrelatively broad and shallow formation for resilient application to oneend of a cylindrical tin can type of container.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein a check valve is providedthrough the broad portion of said cap member intermediate the rimthereof and the joinder thereof with said bulb member.

5. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein the check valve comprisesa headed stem extending through a receiving opening provided in the saidbroad portion of the cap member, said receiving opening being of greaterdiameter than said stem but of less diameter than the head of saidstern, and said stern having a length exceeding the thickness of saidbroad portion of the cap member; and resilient means normallymaintaining said stem with its head in closing position over saidreceiving opening and with its opposite end projecting inwardly of thecap member from the undersurface thereof.

6. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the dispensing headmember and the squeezable bulb member are integrally formed fromflexible resilient material.

7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein the joinder between thedispensing head member and the squeezable bulb member constitutes arelatively constricted neck formation adapted to be snugly received byand between the thumb and forefinger of a user grasping the bulb member;and wherein the dispensing head member comprises a relatively broadportion overhanging said contricted neck portion, as a suspension memberfor the device adapted to rest upon the hand of the user which graspssaid bulb member.

8. The combination. recited in claim 1, wherein the bulb member, capmember, and dispensing head member are all' molded integrally fromflexible resilient material, as a unitary, flexible, resilient body.

9. The combination recited in claim 8, wherein a chamber is formedinternally of the dispensing head member; the outlet check valve is anelongated diaphragm of finger formation having its open end freelyflexible and anchored immediately above said bulb member and its bodyextending into said chamber in the dispensing head member; and whereinthe intake check valve comprises an elongate diaphragm of fingerformation extending inwardly of said bulb member from arelatively-non-deformable base disk anchored centrally of the cap memberand at the lower end of the bulb member.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein the said elongatediaphragm of the intake check valve is slit along its length on a planeextending diagonally, in offset divergent relationship with the centrallongitudinal axis of said finger, from the normally closed tip endthereof toward the open end thereof, leaving a relatively short arcuateconnection between the so divided sections as a freely flexing hinge.

11. The combination recited in claim 10, wherein the elongate diaphragmof the outlet check valve is slit diametrically along its longitudinalaxis.

12. A check valve, comprising an elongate diaphragm of finger formationslit along its length on a plane extending diagonally, in offsetdivergent relationship with the central longitudinal axis of saidfinger, from the normally closed tip end thereof toward the open endthereof, leaving a relatively short arcuate connection between the sodivided sections as a freely flexing hinge.

13. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein a check valve isprovided through the cap member, said check valve comprising anair-intake passage extending through said cap member; a stem secured tosaid cap member and projecting from the underside thereof adjacent saidairintake passage; and a flexible resilient cup member secured to theprojecting end of said stem and comprehending said air-intake passage,the rim of said cup member normally bearing against the underside ofsaid cap member in sealing relationship therewith.

14. The combination recited in claim 13, wherein the stem and cup memberare formed integrally from flexible resilient material, the stem beingremovably anchored in a receiving passage of the cap member.

15. A check valve construction, comprising a wall; an air-inflow passageextending through said wall; a stem secured to said wall in laterallyspaced relation to said passage and projecting from one side thereofadjacent said air-flow passage; and a flexible resilient cup membersecured to the projecting end of said stem and comprehending saidair-flow passage, the rim of said cup member normally bearing againstthe near surface of said wall in sealing relationship therewith.

16. A check valve construction in accordance with claim 15, wherein thestem and cup member are formed integrally from flexible resilientmaterial, the stem being removably anchored in a receiving passage ofthe cap member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS603,941 Cartwright May 10, 1898 1,408,356 Jones Feb. 28, 1922 1,553,245Jaden Sept. 8, 1925 2,690,278 Bocheller Sept. 28, 1954 2,702,147 BrownFeb. 15, 1955

